22 August 2012: The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has published a paper, titled “Crop Yield Response to Water,” which compiles tools for assessing crops’ yield response to water, with the aim of increasing water efficiency. These tools are designed to: determine the effects of water shortages on crops production; investigate impacts of climate change on crop yield; compare various water allocation plans; optimize irrigation schedules; and create strategies to increase water productivity and savings.

The paper builds on previous FAO research while incorporating new knowledge to improve understanding of how water affects crop yields. It addresses: yield response to water, the original FAO water production function; yield response to water of herbaceous crops, the AQUACROP simulation model; and guidelines for yield response to water of fruit trees and vines. [Publication: Crop Yield Response to Water]